THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR!
Greetings church family!
Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman were the lead co-stars in the 2003 comedy, Bruce Almighty. In the film, Jim Carrey plays Bruce Nolan, a TV reporter frustrated with his career and with life. After a particularly challenging day, Bruce angrily challenges God’s competence, and blames God for all of his problems. Wouldn’t you know it, God appears, played by Morgan Freeman, and grants Bruce His divine powers, challenging him to do better. “I have the power” is Bruce Nolan’s fervent reaction to his newly acquired abilities. Immediately we get a glimpse of what Bruce’s kingdom is all about, as acts of revenge, jealousy, and self-indulgence abound. At least initially, Bruce’s kingdom looked very little like God’s kingdom.
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a public painting event, where participants were provided a canvas, an assortment of paintbrushes, and paints. A lead painter would direct the participants to create a forest scene. Art has never been a favorite hobby of mine, and my final product showed. The lead painter created a masterpiece of a forest scene. Most of the other participants’ final result ranged from above average to almost-masterpiece level. My painting - well, let’s just say that mine looked very little like a beautiful forest (and that’s being nice).
In Matthew 4:17, Jesus made a revolutionary announcement. After Jesus’ baptism and testing in the wilderness. Matthew 4:17 [CSB] tells us this: "From then on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.'” The King James Version of Matthew 4:17 says, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, 'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” Why has the kingdom of heaven come near? Why did heaven’s kingdom need to be at hand? Because Earth used to be an extension of the heavenly kingdom. Since the fall of humanity, however, earthly nations and kingdoms have chosen power over peace, and profit over people - all by the design of the adversary, Satan. Because of this, earthly nations and kingdoms look very little like the heavenly kingdom.
The Jews had an abundance of experience under the rule of the less-than-heavenly earthly kingdoms. They had been under foreign rule for over 600 years by Jesus’ time, and were under Roman oppression during Jesus’ announcement. Between outrageous taxation and social inequality, both coming at the hands of Roman rule, the Jews grew tired of tyranny and hungry for hope. They longed for a Messiah that would free them from oppression.
Unknown to them in the fullest sense, the Messiah had already come to the Jews, announcing the nearness of His kingdom. Also unknown to them in the fullest sense was that Jesus aimed to conquer hearts rather than overthrow governments. The needed coup was a divine inside job in nature, rather than political takeover. Thus, shortly after His announcement, Jesus ascended to a mountain to share the shocking revelation of what His kingdom was truly about.
Church family, are we still in desperate need for Jesus’ kingdom to come near? Aren’t our hearts the perfect place for Jesus’ kingdom principles to take hold?
This Sabbath, we begin a journey through Jesus’ kingdom revelation, considered by many to be the greatest sermon ever preached - the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This journey promises to be both liberating and humbling. And by journey’s end, may the conviction be ever strengthened within us that God is for us, God is with us, and God loves us.
Blessings church family!
Pastor Chris
